Electric-discharge device



Patented @ct. 224, 3922.

UNHTD STATS PATENT @IFFHGE.

HOWARD W. WEINHABT, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED or new roan.

, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION ELECTRIC-DISCHARGE DEVICE.

Application filed November 1, 1916, Serial No. 128,857. Renewed January 19, 1920. Serial No. 352,639.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD W. WEIN- or more elements are used, one of the elements is a source of electrons or cathode. Another element acts as the anode. Under the action of a strong electric field the electrons from the cathode travel towards the anode and acquire a high velocity. As a result of the electronic bombardment to which it is thus subjected, the plate becomes heated. This fact limits the power input since excessive heating of the anode plate drives oil the occluded gases or may even melt the plate, destroying the tube.

In this invention then, the purpose is to so construct and arrange the plate element that it will be able to dissipate a much greater quantity of heat. Such an arrangement will make vacuum tubes of this type largely independent of the heating factor, which heretofore has been a serious limitation to their eliiciency. This result has been obtained by having a circulating medium in contact with one surface of the anode plate element which is in the form of a recess projecting within the tube, which arrangement serves as a means for cooling the anode; and of the various agents which may be used, it has been found that water or oil is particularly suitable. This cooling of the anode, as herein described, has made possible a manifold increase in the amount of power which the audion tube can handle.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in perspective, with certain parts in section, of one form that this invention may take; and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken at the line marked 2', 2'.

The same reference characters are used to designate like parts in the several figures.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 shows an evacuated glass tube containing three electrodes, a filament 2, a grid 3 and an anode 4, as is usual in the so-called audions. The anode 4 is in the form of a metallic thimble connected to the exterior of the evacuated vessel by means of the glass tube 10, the arrangement being such that the inner surface of the thimble-shaped anode can be kept in contact with some cooling medium which may or may not be in circulation. This arrangement, by which the interior of the cylindrical-shaped anode can be kept at approximately atmospheric pressure and a cooling medium inserted, affords a ready means for preventing the anode from becoming heated by the electronic bombardment from the cathode. One method of doing this, as shown in this figure, is to have a conduit or tube 5 leading from outside the vacuum tube to the interior of the thimbleshaped anode. Constant circulation of the cooling medium would thus be. attained by having the medium enter by means of 5 and pass out between the conduit and the anode, or vice versa.

The filament 2 and grid 3 may be of any suitable form. In Fig. 1 the filament is shown as composed of a plurality of wires connected in parallel, forming a cylindrical network around the anode, and supported by the glass columns 8, 8. This network is connected along its length to supporting rings 9, 9 the upper one of which is connected to the glass columns 8, 8 by supporting wires 11,11. The rings are connected to suitable lead-in wires 12, 12. The grid, as shown, consists of a metallic conductor wound spirally around the anode plate 4, but insulated therefrom. This arrange ment of the cathode around the anode provides a larger electron emitting surface for the cathode than has been heretofore obtainable where the anode surrounded the cathode. V

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken at a point marked 2, 2', and shows the particular relation of the three electrodes to each other as used in Fig. 1.

This invention may be embodied in still other forms than that shown in drawing without departing in any wise from the spirit of this invention as set forth in the appended claims. It is inessential to this invention whether the lower portion of the anode be of glass, or of metal. As this lower portion plays little part in the electrode function of the tube, but merely se'ryes as a passage-way for the cooling liquid.

hat is claimed is:

1. An electric discharge device comprising a vessel containing a hollow electrode adapted to have a cooling fluid pass therethrough, an auxiliary electrode surrounding said hollow electrode and a cathode surrounding said auxiliary electrode.

2. An electric discharge device comprising a vessel containing a cathode surrounding a hollow electrode, the inner face of said electrode being substantially at atmospheric pressure.

3. An electric discharge device comprising a vessel containing a filamentary electrode surrounding a hollow cylindrical anode, the inner face of said anode being at substantially atmospheric pressure.

4. An electric discharge device comprising a vessel containing a. filamentary electrode surrounding a hollow cylindrical anode, the inner face of said anode being in a less evacuated state than the interior of said vessel.

5. An electric discharge device comprisin a vessel containing a filament, leads exten ing through the wall of the vessel for supplying heating current to the filament, an auxiliary electrode and an anode, said filament being composed of a plurality of parallel elements forming a cylindrical surface, said anode and said auxiliary electrode being surrounded by said filament.

6. An electric discharge device comprising a vessel containing a filament, an auxiliary electrode and an anode, said filament being composed of a plurality of parallel elements forming a cylindrical surface, said anode and. said auxiliary electrode bein surrounded by said filament, and means fbr cooling said anode.

7. An electric discharge device comprising a vesel containing a hollow electrode, a plurality of electrodes symmetrically disposed around said hollow electrode, said hollow electrode having one face subjected to atmospheric pressure.

8. An electric discharge device comprising a vessel containing a hollow electrode, a plurality of electrodes symmetrically disposed around said hollow electrode, said hollow electrode having its inner face subjected to atmospheric pressure.

9. An electric discharge device comprising a vessel containing a cathode, lead wires in the wall of said vessel for supplying heating current to said cathode, anda plurality of auxiliary electrodes surrounded by said cathode, all the electrodes within said vessel other than said cathode being within said cathode.

10. An electric discharge device comprising a vessel containing a cathode, lead wires in the wall .of said vessel for supplying heating current to said cathode, an anode, and a grid electrode, said cathode surrounding said other electrodes.

11. An electric discharge device comprising a vessel containing a cathode and an anode, one of which is a hollow electrode the interior thereof being subjected to an atmospheric state different from that within said vessel, and a grid electrode wound on said hollow electrode.

12. An electric discharge device comprising cathode and anode electrodes, said anode being arranged near the axis of the tube and said cathode comprising a plurality of members disposed substantially parallel with respect to said axis and presenting a substantially cylindrical active surface adapted to be heated to emit electrons.

13. An electric discharge device comprising a vesel containing an anode near the axis of the tube, a cathode surrounding the anode, said cathode comprising a plurality of members arranged in a substantially cylindrical manner around the anode and lead wires in the wall of said vessel for supplying heating current to said cathode.

14. An electric discharge device comprising a vessel containing an anode near the axis of the tube, a cathode comprising a plurality of metallic members mounted longitudinally of the tube and substantially concentric with respect to said anode and lead wires in the wall of the vessel for supplying heating current to said cathode.

15. An electric discharge device comprising an envelope of dielectric material containing cathode and anode electrodes, said anode being arranged coaxial of the envelope and said cathode comprising a plurality of members arranged substantially parallel with respect to the axis of the envelope and substantially concentric with respect to said other electrode, said members presenting a substantially cylindrical active surface adapted to be heated to emit electrons.

16. A vacuum tube comprising an electron emitting cathode and an anode adapted to receive electrons therefrom, said anode being surrounded-by said cathode.

17 A vacuum tube comprising an electron emitting cathode having a substantially cylindrical surface and an anode receiving electrons therefrom, said anode being surrounded by said cathode.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of October A. 1)., 1916.

HOWARD W. WEINHART. 

